Graham Marsden
Editor Emeritus
The last time I wrote a ‘retirement’ message was in September 2008, when I decided to retire from my full time job of editing FishingMagic for Magicalia Ltd. What I didn’t realise though, was that Magicalia would then decide to sell the site and ask me to stay on as editor, part time only, while the sale went through.
Sometime later, when the site was bought by Fish and Fly Ltd, and I met with new owner and Managing Director Richard Hewitt, he asked me if I would carry on as part time Managing Editor, with some help from editors Jeff ‘Woody’ Woodhouse and Geoff Maynard. I was more than glad to accept, for what I wanted more than anything was for FM to blossom again, following the less than smooth transition from one platform to another. And I must say it’s been a pleasure to work with Richard, Colin, Paul, Zoe, Sofi, Jeff and Geoff. And of course with a great team of moderators: Peter, EC and Neil.
However, I’m 68 in April and, as daft as it may seem, I’m still full of ambition. I’ve co-authored three fishing books in the last two years and I’ve got plans for more, and for other projects. Although my all-night fishing days are over I’m still fishing regularly, both coarse and fly fishing, and I still feel I have something to offer the angling world from the experience I’ve gained over the last 65 years (I have a black and white photo of me fishing at the age of three).
What age does to you more than anything is slow you down, and whereas at one time I could easily manage FishingMagic and follow other interests and projects, these days it is just too difficult to do both, and if I carry on with FM I will never have given myself a proper chance to fulfil my other ambitions. At the root of my decision though is that I need to do the things I want to do at my own pace and in my own time and running FishingMagic is a responsibility that needs more commitment than that. In theory I currently work only a total of two days each week, but in reality it’s a responsibility for seven days a week. It’s a job I’ve always done to the best of my ability, and with a passion, but it’s now time to hand the reins to someone else.
So, at the end of this month I shall fully retire from FM, although Richard tells me that he would like me to still be associated with the website with some honorary title, which I shall be pleased and proud to accept. FishingMagic has been ‘my’ baby for far too long to shrug it off as the end of just another job.
You won’t have seen the last of me though, for I’ll still enjoy the forum along with everyone else, and I’ll still contribute the occasional article and review, and attend the odd fish-in. Thanks to everyone for being good company over the years, and long may that continue.
Richard will make a further announcement soon with details about how the site will be run in the immediate future and with news of some of the great plans he has for FM to maintain it as the UK’s most popular coarse fishing website.
Sometime later, when the site was bought by Fish and Fly Ltd, and I met with new owner and Managing Director Richard Hewitt, he asked me if I would carry on as part time Managing Editor, with some help from editors Jeff ‘Woody’ Woodhouse and Geoff Maynard. I was more than glad to accept, for what I wanted more than anything was for FM to blossom again, following the less than smooth transition from one platform to another. And I must say it’s been a pleasure to work with Richard, Colin, Paul, Zoe, Sofi, Jeff and Geoff. And of course with a great team of moderators: Peter, EC and Neil.
However, I’m 68 in April and, as daft as it may seem, I’m still full of ambition. I’ve co-authored three fishing books in the last two years and I’ve got plans for more, and for other projects. Although my all-night fishing days are over I’m still fishing regularly, both coarse and fly fishing, and I still feel I have something to offer the angling world from the experience I’ve gained over the last 65 years (I have a black and white photo of me fishing at the age of three).
What age does to you more than anything is slow you down, and whereas at one time I could easily manage FishingMagic and follow other interests and projects, these days it is just too difficult to do both, and if I carry on with FM I will never have given myself a proper chance to fulfil my other ambitions. At the root of my decision though is that I need to do the things I want to do at my own pace and in my own time and running FishingMagic is a responsibility that needs more commitment than that. In theory I currently work only a total of two days each week, but in reality it’s a responsibility for seven days a week. It’s a job I’ve always done to the best of my ability, and with a passion, but it’s now time to hand the reins to someone else.
So, at the end of this month I shall fully retire from FM, although Richard tells me that he would like me to still be associated with the website with some honorary title, which I shall be pleased and proud to accept. FishingMagic has been ‘my’ baby for far too long to shrug it off as the end of just another job.
You won’t have seen the last of me though, for I’ll still enjoy the forum along with everyone else, and I’ll still contribute the occasional article and review, and attend the odd fish-in. Thanks to everyone for being good company over the years, and long may that continue.
Richard will make a further announcement soon with details about how the site will be run in the immediate future and with news of some of the great plans he has for FM to maintain it as the UK’s most popular coarse fishing website.
